Local Press: Glorious Moment For UAE’s Space Ambitions

The launching of KhalifaSat on Monday from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan will mark an important milestone for the country’s space programme

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Oct, 2018) The launching of KhalifaSat on Monday from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan will mark an important milestone for the country’s space programme and catapult the Arab region into a new era of space industry outlining the outstanding capabilities UAE youth have acquired in space technologies, an editorial in a local English language daily has said.

"What makes the KhalifaSat project extremely special for the country is that it is the first satellite fully manufactured in the UAE by a 70-member team of highly qualified young Emirati engineers, aged between 27 and 28 years," added the editorial, in today's edition of The Gulf Today.

"There’s absolutely no doubt that with the launch of KhalifaSat the UAE will strengthen its position and competitiveness among the world’s leading countries in space technology manufacturing.

"Space technologies are important to the security and economy of nations. The sector has become integral to many aspects of life from telecommunications and navigation to broadcasting and monitoring of weather and natural disasters. The global space industry growth rate is expected to reach 8 per cent per annum.

"Investment in space technology and industry will have a positive impact on the national economy and help the country build a base of highly educated, qualified and trained professionals including astronauts, space specialists, experts, planners and engineers.

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The paper further stated, "Incidentally, KhalifaSat will be the third UAE satellite to be launched into space, after DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2. Work on KhalifaSat began in 2013 after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, made an announcement on the space bid.

"KhalifaSat is also one of the most technologically advanced remote-sensing observation satellites and the benefits of the project are immense. Once in orbit, KhalifaSat will provide high-quality detailed imagery for a variety of uses.

"It will send these images back to the ground station to serve the needs of government organisations and private-sector enterprises locally and globally, enabling the UAE to provide competitive services all over the world in the satellite imagery sector. Sophisticated techniques and innovations used in the project will help provide high quality image services."

"The UAE is well set to become a prominent regional centre for space research and programmes," the editorial said.

"What is markedly evident is the commitment of the nation’s leadership to promote scientific talent. No stone is left unturned when it comes to helping the scientific community pursue dreams and reach for the stars. Future generations in the UAE can reap the valuable rewards of such investment in science and knowledge," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.